Why do the last weeks of school suck so badly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not a new phenomenon, I remember the same thing happening when I was in school 30 years ago.

I am just happy I don't have to pay for camps these weeks and we can maintain our routine.

I don’t. I don’t remember THREE WEEKS of nothingness. I remember maybe three DAYS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Because the schools need to count these days as "attendance" to meet their attendance metrics.

Right. But that’s arbitrary and stupid if learning has ended.

Add it to the list of things that are arbitrary and stupid about public school.

+1. But since we don’t all have private school money, here we are.

I agree, but a question out of curiosity (and to get a sense on whether my kid is getting an inferior education or just having to put up with some administrative nonsense a private school kid wouldn't):

Are private schools offering several weeks more of actual instruction and enrichment, or do they just have shorter school years and the kids spend that time jetting off on vacations with their wealthy, private-school-tuition-affording parents?

Most private schools have a much shorter school year, at least the ones where my friends/relatives' kids go. My sister's kids are done before Memorial Day and only started a couple of days before my kids. So our school year is about 3 weeks longer. And our school day is longer too.

Private school parent here. Yes our school year is shorter, but we don’t take off for all Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Chinese, Jewish holiday so the kids have less days off during the year. And less ‘video watching’ days at the end of the year compared to their public school that we left.

The amount of these the public school gives (1 each) is still less than the amount of rando Catholic holidays my sister's kids get. They get a week and half for Easter alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My kid is essentially done today. They had pizza and a water balloon fight. They had a 4 day field trip last week. They had their last actual class about 2 weeks ago. It's fun for them and I don't care one bit that they're not actually learning anything these weeks. Not every second needs to be a learning experience.

Just give it 5-7 years. The parents of little kids are so precious.

Kid is in 8th grade.

Your 8th grader finds the last month of school fun? Do share the school name because that is a rarity!

We don’t live in the DC area. Yeah last week they flew out for a 4 day field trip. They all had fun obviously it’s a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is essentially done today. They had pizza and a water balloon fight. They had a 4 day field trip last week. They had their last actual class about 2 weeks ago. It's fun for them and I don't care one bit that they're not actually learning anything these weeks. Not every second needs to be a learning experience.

Just give it 5-7 years. The parents of little kids are so precious.

Kid is in 8th grade.

Your 8th grader finds the last month of school fun? Do share the school name because that is a rarity!

We don’t live in the DC area. Yeah last week they flew out for a 4 day field trip. They all had fun obviously it’s a private school.

Our public flew (some) kids out on a field trip last week, too. We still have three weeks of school and they are done with new concepts and tests on those concepts. It’s so ridiculously stupid. They are just floating around the school aimless until early-June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the schools need to count these days as "attendance" to meet their attendance metrics.

Right. But that’s arbitrary and stupid if learning has ended.

Add it to the list of things that are arbitrary and stupid about public school.

+1. But since we don’t all have private school money, here we are.

I agree, but a question out of curiosity (and to get a sense on whether my kid is getting an inferior education or just having to put up with some administrative nonsense a private school kid wouldn't):

Are private schools offering several weeks more of actual instruction and enrichment, or do they just have shorter school years and the kids spend that time jetting off on vacations with their wealthy, private-school-tuition-affording parents?

Most private schools have a much shorter school year, at least the ones where my friends/relatives' kids go. My sister's kids are done before Memorial Day and only started a couple of days before my kids. So our school year is about 3 weeks longer. And our school day is longer too.

Private school parent here. Yes our school year is shorter, but we don’t take off for all Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Chinese, Jewish holiday so the kids have less days off during the year. And less ‘video watching’ days at the end of the year compared to their public school that we left.

The amount of these the public school gives (1 each) is still less than the amount of rando Catholic holidays my sister's kids get. They get a week and half for Easter alone.

Yeah, I’m sure Catholic schools are closed more than public schools! My kids are at an independent school.

[Anonymous]

I was in many private school systems in different countries, and my kids are now in the US in MCPS, plus a stint in a private school in my home country...


... and the last weeks of school are always like this, OP!

[Anonymous]

We thought it was awesome that we got a half day free day growing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the schools need to count these days as "attendance" to meet their attendance metrics.

Right. But that’s arbitrary and stupid if learning has ended.

Add it to the list of things that are arbitrary and stupid about public school.

+1. But since we don’t all have private school money, here we are.

I agree, but a question out of curiosity (and to get a sense on whether my kid is getting an inferior education or just having to put up with some administrative nonsense a private school kid wouldn't):

Are private schools offering several weeks more of actual instruction and enrichment, or do they just have shorter school years and the kids spend that time jetting off on vacations with their wealthy, private-school-tuition-affording parents?

Most private schools have a much shorter school year, at least the ones where my friends/relatives' kids go. My sister's kids are done before Memorial Day and only started a couple of days before my kids. So our school year is about 3 weeks longer. And our school day is longer too.

Private school parent here. Yes our school year is shorter, but we don’t take off for all Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Chinese, Jewish holiday so the kids have less days off during the year. And less ‘video watching’ days at the end of the year compared to their public school that we left.

The amount of these the public school gives (1 each) is still less than the amount of rando Catholic holidays my sister's kids get. They get a week and half for Easter alone.

Yeah, I’m sure Catholic schools are closed more than public schools! My kids are at an independent school.

I’ve worked in a MD public and a MD Catholic. The public school rules are 180 instructional days. The Catholic archdiocesan rules are 178. Not a huge difference. Day length is the same.

I will add that I teach more in the Catholic school because it doesn’t have the days devoted to county and state testing. That took up about 15% of the school year when I worked in a county school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the schools need to count these days as "attendance" to meet their attendance metrics.

Right. But that’s arbitrary and stupid if learning has ended.

Add it to the list of things that are arbitrary and stupid about public school.

+1. But since we don’t all have private school money, here we are.

I agree, but a question out of curiosity (and to get a sense on whether my kid is getting an inferior education or just having to put up with some administrative nonsense a private school kid wouldn't):

Are private schools offering several weeks more of actual instruction and enrichment, or do they just have shorter school years and the kids spend that time jetting off on vacations with their wealthy, private-school-tuition-affording parents?

Most private schools have a much shorter school year, at least the ones where my friends/relatives' kids go. My sister's kids are done before Memorial Day and only started a couple of days before my kids. So our school year is about 3 weeks longer. And our school day is longer too.

Private school parent here. Yes our school year is shorter, but we don’t take off for all Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Chinese, Jewish holiday so the kids have less days off during the year. And less ‘video watching’ days at the end of the year compared to their public school that we left.

The amount of these the public school gives (1 each) is still less than the amount of rando Catholic holidays my sister's kids get. They get a week and half for Easter alone.

Yeah, I’m sure Catholic schools are closed more than public schools! My kids are at an independent school.

I’ve worked in a MD public and a MD Catholic. The public school rules are 180 instructional days. The Catholic archdiocesan rules are 178. Not a huge difference. Day length is the same.

I will add that I teach more in the Catholic school because it doesn’t have the days devoted to county and state testing. That took up about 15% of the school year when I worked in a county school.

Other Diocese much have different (fewer) required days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the schools need to count these days as "attendance" to meet their attendance metrics.

Right. But that’s arbitrary and stupid if learning has ended.

Add it to the list of things that are arbitrary and stupid about public school.

+1. But since we don’t all have private school money, here we are.

I agree, but a question out of curiosity (and to get a sense on whether my kid is getting an inferior education or just having to put up with some administrative nonsense a private school kid wouldn't):

Are private schools offering several weeks more of actual instruction and enrichment, or do they just have shorter school years and the kids spend that time jetting off on vacations with their wealthy, private-school-tuition-affording parents?

Most private schools have a much shorter school year, at least the ones where my friends/relatives' kids go. My sister's kids are done before Memorial Day and only started a couple of days before my kids. So our school year is about 3 weeks longer. And our school day is longer too.

Private school parent here. Yes our school year is shorter, but we don’t take off for all Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Chinese, Jewish holiday so the kids have less days off during the year. And less ‘video watching’ days at the end of the year compared to their public school that we left.

The amount of these the public school gives (1 each) is still less than the amount of rando Catholic holidays my sister's kids get. They get a week and half for Easter alone.

Yeah, I’m sure Catholic schools are closed more than public schools! My kids are at an independent school.

I’ve worked in a MD public and a MD Catholic. The public school rules are 180 instructional days. The Catholic archdiocesan rules are 178. Not a huge difference. Day length is the same.

I will add that I teach more in the Catholic school because it doesn’t have the days devoted to county and state testing. That took up about 15% of the school year when I worked in a county school.

Other Diocese much have different (fewer) required days.

Just checked. ADW requires the full 180. AOB is 178. I couldn’t find Arlington’s, but calendars look consistent with others.

I don’t believe Catholic schools, at least in this region, go to school for fewer days than their public counterparts.

[Anonymous]

I remember being a kid and loving the last week of elementary school, when we'd have a field day, and sign yearbooks, and play board games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the schools need to count these days as "attendance" to meet their attendance metrics.

Right. But that’s arbitrary and stupid if learning has ended.

Add it to the list of things that are arbitrary and stupid about public school.

+1. But since we don’t all have private school money, here we are.

I agree, but a question out of curiosity (and to get a sense on whether my kid is getting an inferior education or just having to put up with some administrative nonsense a private school kid wouldn't):

Are private schools offering several weeks more of actual instruction and enrichment, or do they just have shorter school years and the kids spend that time jetting off on vacations with their wealthy, private-school-tuition-affording parents?

Most private schools have a much shorter school year, at least the ones where my friends/relatives' kids go. My sister's kids are done before Memorial Day and only started a couple of days before my kids. So our school year is about 3 weeks longer. And our school day is longer too.

Private school parent here. Yes our school year is shorter, but we don’t take off for all Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Chinese, Jewish holiday so the kids have less days off during the year. And less ‘video watching’ days at the end of the year compared to their public school that we left.

The amount of these the public school gives (1 each) is still less than the amount of rando Catholic holidays my sister's kids get. They get a week and half for Easter alone.

Yeah, I’m sure Catholic schools are closed more than public schools! My kids are at an independent school.

I’ve worked in a MD public and a MD Catholic. The public school rules are 180 instructional days. The Catholic archdiocesan rules are 178. Not a huge difference. Day length is the same.

I will add that I teach more in the Catholic school because it doesn’t have the days devoted to county and state testing. That took up about 15% of the school year when I worked in a county school.

Other Diocese much have different (fewer) required days.

Just checked. ADW requires the full 180. AOB is 178. I couldn’t find Arlington’s, but calendars look consistent with others.

I don’t believe Catholic schools, at least in this region, go to school for fewer days than their public counterparts.

Charlotte does 174. Richmond, while I can't find the published count, started on 8/23 (after FCPS) and ends 6/6 (well before FCPS.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t they just end it? Why this torturous death by a thousand cuts?

This is my DC last full week of school, but they’ve told me they aren’t learning anything new, are mostly watching class-related movies (Apollo 13 in social studies, some other movie I can’t remember in science) or other “busy” work. Such a waste.

Next week they get out on Thursday. The following week, only go W-F, and on the last week, have finals only on M and T.

If they are done learning now, why not just do finals and be done with it? The arbitrary “number of days” is so ridiculous.

Stop complaining and run for School Board if you want
to make changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the schools need to count these days as "attendance" to meet their attendance metrics.

Right. But that’s arbitrary and stupid if learning has ended.

Add it to the list of things that are arbitrary and stupid about public school.

+1. But since we don’t all have private school money, here we are.

I agree, but a question out of curiosity (and to get a sense on whether my kid is getting an inferior education or just having to put up with some administrative nonsense a private school kid wouldn't):

Are private schools offering several weeks more of actual instruction and enrichment, or do they just have shorter school years and the kids spend that time jetting off on vacations with their wealthy, private-school-tuition-affording parents?

Most private schools have a much shorter school year, at least the ones where my friends/relatives' kids go. My sister's kids are done before Memorial Day and only started a couple of days before my kids. So our school year is about 3 weeks longer. And our school day is longer too.

Private school parent here. Yes our school year is shorter, but we don’t take off for all Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Chinese, Jewish holiday so the kids have less days off during the year. And less ‘video watching’ days at the end of the year compared to their public school that we left.

The amount of these the public school gives (1 each) is still less than the amount of rando Catholic holidays my sister's kids get. They get a week and half for Easter alone.

Yeah, I’m sure Catholic schools are closed more than public schools! My kids are at an independent school.

I’ve worked in a MD public and a MD Catholic. The public school rules are 180 instructional days. The Catholic archdiocesan rules are 178. Not a huge difference. Day length is the same.

I will add that I teach more in the Catholic school because it doesn’t have the days devoted to county and state testing. That took up about 15% of the school year when I worked in a county school.

Other Diocese much have different (fewer) required days.

Just checked. ADW requires the full 180. AOB is 178. I couldn’t find Arlington’s, but calendars look consistent with others.

I don’t believe Catholic schools, at least in this region, go to school for fewer days than their public counterparts.

Charlotte does 174. Richmond, while I can't find the published count, started on 8/23 (after FCPS) and ends 6/6 (well before FCPS.)

The issue isn’t only start/stop dates. It’s the days off during the school year.

Also, Catholic schools do not lose days to county testing. My last year in a Maryland public, I kept track of how many days were 100% devoted to county testing. 18. 10% of the school year was wasted on county tests, not even the ones mandated by the state.

[Anonymous]

If it helps, it’s not so great for teachers either.